MAURICIO SULAIMAN, ON WILDER’S POTENTIAL BRITISH REPLACEMENTS IF AJ TALKS FAIL
Fight Scene caught up with WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman for some perspective from across the pond.
FS: How’s the heavyweight scene looking right now Mauricio, are you excited?
MS: The world is delighted to see the heavyweight division so full of interest – there are so many matches that could be made to bring back the glory days of boxing. The heavyweight champion of the world is considered the strongest man on earth and that has been a matter of global interest for countless generations.
FS: Your organisation, the WBC, has Deontay Wilder as it’s champion. Is Deontay good for boxing?
MS: Yes. Absolutely. Wilder has reigned since 2014, he’s undefeated with 40 wins and 39 knockouts. He’s a true world champion who has fought in several countries and was ready to defend his title in Russia when the fight had to be called off just a week before.
FS: If Joshua talks finally fall apart, Wilder will be looking for a filler fight. Fury, Whyte and Bellew would all make good opponents, since they’re also British names who would add to the build-up on both sides of the Atlantic. Would you like to see any of these fights?
MS: Definitely. They would all make tremendous fights against Wilder. Each has clear differences.
FS: Could you break them down for us please?
MS: Of course….! Tyson Fury has the height and technique which present complications, however inactivity will be an uncertain factor. Dillian Whyte has the power, the will and the experience (having fought a bruising battle with AJ), but he has a style that makes Wilder more effective. Tony Bellew is a great story made into reality and he continues to surprise the fans with great victories. Wilder at 214 brings Bellew much closer to a reality and he’s even speaking about going down to Cruiserweight ! Any of these matches would be of great interest to the world!
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and challenger Tyson Fury will face each other on December 1 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Mares v Santa Cruz & Charlo v Trout in LA – Crawford v Horn in Vegas
By Jon Sutton (Images & Quotes: Showtime/Top Rank/BoxRec)
Image: Showtime (click for full fight details – Mares v Santa Cruz & Charlo v Trout)
ABNER MARES v LEO SANTA CRUZ 2 (LA)
This Saturday night, eighteen years after the Staples Center mega-fight that was Oscar De La Hoya v Shane Mosley (the two biggest faces of boxing in LA – and around the world – at that time) fellow Californians (by way of Mexico) Abner Mares & Leo Santa Cruz will look to emulate the fight’s success when they meet for their long awaited rematch in the same location.
Mares, who lost the first fight, has improved in the three years since and is now confident of winning the WBC & WBO Featherweight belts that Santa Cruz snatched the first time around.
“I’m looking for redemption because he beat me. Simple as that.” Mares said, on Twitter.
But Santa Cruz, who has just one loss on his record (a majority decision against Carl Frampton that was avenged when they met for a second time) was a clear winner in the first fight because he figured out that using his reach on the outside was the key to Mares’ lock.
Unless Mares has grown a few inches, or developed another level of speed & power, it’s unlikely that his improvements will be enough to gain the redemption which he’s now hunting.
WBC Boss Mauricio Sulaiman had this to say…
“Santacruz v Mares is a fan’s dream fight. A rematch after a dramatic, all-action first fight. Both are such gentleman, role model champions, it was great to see them behaving with such respect in the press conference and their families sitting together. The winner has a direct line to fight gary russell a fight both have expressed interest in going next.”
UPDATE: Santa Cruz took the decision in a similar fashion to the first fight – spending the first six rounds in a fire-fight before moving outside to work the jab for the latter half.
JERMELL CHARLO v AUSTIN TROUT (LA)
On the headline (not the undercard) alongside this main event is a title fight worthy of it’s own show.
Nonetheless, Showtime are bringing the Los Angelos a double bill of battles this Saturday night at the Staples Center.
Jermell Charlo, one half of the destructive Charlo twins, takes on – and looks to take out – Austin Trout, the man who effectively stopped Miguel Cotto’s career in it’s tracks six years ago, before picking up losses at the top level more recently.
Trout told the media at the Showtime press conference:
“After I beat Miguel Cotto, everyone made excuses, saying he was over the hill etc. But Cotto went on to win a middleweight title. After I beat Jermell Charlo though, there will be no excuses. He’s in his prime, knocking people out. I’m going to stop the Charlo show.”
WBC Boss Mauricio Sulaiman had this to say…
“Charlo vs Trout is a classic example of youth v maturity, power & excitement v experience. If Charlo wins he will be entering the elite ranks and he has tremendous potential to be a super star. If trout wins it would mark the pinnacle of his career, but a loss could end his era in the top level of the sport.”
UPDATE: Charlo took the decision, stealing shots in every round using his speed and cunning.
Image: TopRank (click for full fight info – Horn v Crawford)
TERENCE CRAWFORD V JEFF HORN (Vegas)
(Images: BoxRec)
Meanwhile in Las Vegas…
Jeff Horn, the unbeaten Aussie who shocked the world when he beat Pacman early last year, fights for the first time outside of Australia against the also-unbeaten Terence Crawford.
Crawford has a slightly higher KO percentage, against a higher class of opposition, and fights in his own country. But Nebraska is a long way from Vegas, so don’t expect a home town advantage for Crawford.
Horn’s slight height advantage, and that win over Pacman, might just provide him the edge to do the business Saturday night, propelling himself into the US market and into contention for the megafights of the explosive Super Lightweight division.
UPDATE: As much as we love the Jeff Horn story, it was not his night. The uber-talented Crawford rocked him with a barrage of hurtful shots before stopping the Australian.
The NABF celebrated its 49th annual convention in San Diego, California, with the presence of members from most of the states in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The NABF was founded in 1968 with the goal to serve as a Continental Federation affiliated with the World Boxing Council. It was formed by the affiliation of individuals representing their states in the three countries mentioned above. These individuals were boxing commissioners – most, if not all, were the chairmen of their state boxing commission. It was through the NABF that the administration of boxing and implementation of rules to make boxing safer was a great success.
The Muhammad Ali Act came to the USA and became a law, and it includes a clause prohibiting boxing commissioners from being members of a governing body. This measure has hurt the sport in a tremendous way, as there is limited or no reciprocity agreements between the boxing jurisdictions, and it is basically impossible to implement new rules in the USA, which is the greatest country in boxing in the world.
Instant Replay, 4th and 8th Round Open Scoring, Point Deduction to Uncut Boxer, 30 Second Signal, etc. These rules are used in most countries with the exception of the USA and the UK.
This year, two legendary champions have lost their world titles in close, controversial fights. Chocolatito and Pacquiao lost their world titles in split decisions. Both champions suffered from one thing in common – huge cuts coming from accidental headbutts. Blood came down their face, limiting their vision, taking an effect on their strength, and of probably making an impact in the judges on close rounds.
Had the WBC accidental head butt rule been in place, both would have retained their titles by majority draw.
The WBC implemented this rule many years ago in which a point is deducted from the uncut boxer on an accidental head butt. Even when questioned at times, it has proven to be a very good rule to balance the extreme difficulties that a cut brings to a fighter.
There were so many magic moments during this annual gathering:
Ray Beltran (middle) was awarded by the NABF and gave a speech that brought everyone to tears. Ray shared his difficulties through life, even days which he had no food and no hope to survive. Boxing has given him a life and might soon give him his much-needed green card to continue with his quest to become world champion.
NABF Executive committee: The Reyes Family, Deborah Hawkins, Alberto Reyes, Gaby Mancini, Rex Walker, Mike George, Jill Diamond, Sammy Macias, Craig Hubble, Mauricio Sulaiman, Joanna Aguilar, Duane Ford, Travis Ford, and Misty.
Fes Batista visited Russell Hall Primary School this week during the celebration assembly to talk to the children about anti-bullying. Batista is an anti-bullying activist who trains and lives in the United States of America.
The young boxer who was born in Huddersfield moved his career to the states and began making a splash in the world of boxing. Batista, when not training, spends the rest of his time working and promoting the World Boxing Council’s Anti-Bullying programme.
Photo: WBC images
Batista is no stranger to Russell Hall Primary as he has visited the school before to speak on the issue of bullying. He told the children boxing turned his life around after he had experienced being bullied when he was young.
The assembly included an anti-bullying song that was sung by three of Russell Hall’s students. Fes Batista then ended the assembly by donating his famous shades.
Deputy Headteacher, Heidi Higgs said:
“It was great to have Fes Batista come and talk to the children about bullying.
“Fes has worked with the school for several years and has helped to ensure that the anti-bullying culture remains high profile at Russell Hall.”
ABNER MARES v LEO SANTA CRUZ 2 (LA)
TERENCE CRAWFORD V JEFF HORN (Vegas)
